Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build the future.
As a result, the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that it is officially launching its newest chapter in Guadalajara. While the Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, early-stage entrepreneurs in Jalisco can finally now take advantage of the Founder Institute's renowned structure, mentor support, and network to build an enduring company.
Applications to the first ever Guadalajara Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/guadalajara.
The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding, and build something that matters.
Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,500 Alumni raise over $1.85BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Guadalajara, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program from the comfort of your home:
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 11:00am, jun 02, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372196
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 11:00am, jun 04, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372227
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 6:00pm, jun 09, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372243
- How to Raise Startup Funding in Mexico City in 2025: 7:00pm, jun 10, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372768
- FI Mexico Spring Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies: 7:00pm, jun 17, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372774
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 11:00am, jun 23, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372280
- Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 11:00am, jun 25, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/371965
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 6:00pm, jun 26, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/373856
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 11:00am, jun 30, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372301
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Creating Effective Content with AI: 11:00am, jul 02, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/373205
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 11:00am, jul 07, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/372323
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building an MVP with No Coding Skills : 11:00am, jul 09, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/373336
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 11:00am, jul 16, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/373471
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 11:00am, jul 23, 2025 (America/Mexico_City): https://FI.co/e/373593
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Guadalajara include local startup leaders Jose Antonio Tena Sendra (CEO & Co-Founder, Piktia), Lorena Sanchez (Co-Founder & Co CEO, Urban Guilt).
Opportunities are flourishing in Guadalajara. There's now a great ecosystem for entrepreneurs - from crowdfunding platforms to collaborative digital spaces. The Founder Institute can increase an aspiring technology entrepreneur's chance of success by providing the necessary skills and mindset - and a link to the Silicon Valley!
In addition, many of the region's top founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in the Guadalajara - Mexico City Fall 2025 Founder Institute program, including:
- Abdala Pineda: Chief Revenue & Growth Officer, WEEX
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adam Keynes: Founder and GP, Bizrupt and Mind The Gap
- Adan Ramos: Country Manager, Kovi
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Adolfo Babatz: CEO, Clip
- Adolfo Ferrer: CEO & Co-Founder, LIKS
- Agustin Ortiz Monasterio Rivero: Founder, DILMUN
- Ahmed Shabana: Venture Capital. Startup Advisor. Investor., ParkPine Capital
- Airy Minor: Comunicación & Partnerships, ArkAngeles.co
- Alan Luna: VISUAL DESIGNER II, FROG
- Alberto Alejandré: Co Founder / COO & CCO, Mobbit
- Alejandro Carbonell: CEO, Tutorez
- Alejandro Diez Barroso: Managing Partner, DILA CAPITAL
- Alejandro Virchez Azuara: Senior Partner, Node 6
- Alejandro Cardoso: Global CEO & Managing Partner, Massivart
- Alejandro Arriaga: COO & Partner, Alacrity México
- Alejandro Gonzalez: Fund Manager, Redwood Ventures
- Alejandro Berman: VP Marketing, Stori
- Alex Martin: Business Development Manager, ePesos
- Alex Garrido: Founder, AGX.Media
- Àlex Orozco: Country Manager
- Alexis Sanchez: Growth, ARKANGELES
- Alfonso Naranjo: General Partner, Chagres Capital
- Ali Jamal: GP, First Check Ventures
- Ana Carolina Mexia: Co-Founding Partner, Nido Ventures
- Ana Liz Pardo: Chief Marketing Officer, Keyboo
- Ana Lizz Pardo Tarabay: CEO, Keyboo
- Anamargarita Baasch: CEO , Cerveza BW
- Ana Paula Bolio: Analyst, Dila Capital
- Andrea Vásquez: Creative Director, Life and Mindset
- Andrea Marchosky
- Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
- Andres Bilbao: Co founder, Rappi
- ANDRES OLIVEROS GONZALEZ: Co-Founder, ASTROLAB
- Andrés León: Innovation Consultant and Market Validation, Graphite Growth
- Andrew Lee Miller: CEO, ANDREW STARTUPS
- Ángel Alvarado Beitia: Gerente de Finanzas, Empresa General de Capital
- Antonio Saad: Presidente Ejecutivo, #TodoPanama
- Ariadna Trapote: CEO/Co-Founder, Little Bookmates
- Arletty Pinel: CEO, SilverOcean
- Arturo Salazar: General Partner, Billioneurons
- Arturo Flores: Head of Strategy & Planning, Digital@FEMSA
- Ashe Whitener: Founder, Liberty Entrepreneurs
- Astrid Chedid: Regional Director for LAC and Spain, Annual Investment Meeting
- Azalea Perez
- Azul Pasos: INVESTMENT ANALYST, REDWOOD
- Bernardo Cordero: co founder, flat.mx
- Bernardo Tamez: Founder, legalmind.mx
- Bernardo Caceres: Former Vice-President and Country Manager Peru, Procter & Gamble
- Bobby Diamond: Head of UI / UX, Swap
- Brenda Hernandez: CHRO, TUL
- Bruno Ramos: CEO, Swap
- C Salazar: Venture Partner, 500 Startups
- Carlos Beltran: Partner / Chief Innovation Officer, BELTRAN FORTUNY & BELTRAN RIVERA SC
- Carlos Garcia: CEO, Kavak
- Carlos Ayalde: GM, Stori
- Carlos Flores: Head of Business Development, Wayra Hispam
- Carlos Andres Valencia Nieto: Machine learning Project Leader | Product Manager, Mercadolibre
- Carlos Arturo Hoyos: Director, Velo Legal
- Carolina Arango: CEO, Trasto Casa
- Carolina De La Guardia: Co-Founder and Partner , Velo Legal
- Caterine Castillo: CEO, NEIVOR
- Cesar Esquivel: CEO, Blooders
- Cesar Andres [Cedres] Villaran: VP of Revenue, Zenpli
- Christian Rubio: Founder and Producer, La Gracia Films
- Claret Uribe: Business Development Manager, Bebe2Go
- Claudia Madrid: Director, CM Creative Marketing
- Cristina Palacios: CEO, Aventones
- Cristina De La Peña: CEO, Synapbox
- Cristina Carvallo: People Officer, Crabi
- Cristina Collazos: Manager, Ciudad del Saber
- Cristobal Cortes: CEO, Degusta
- Daniel Granatta: Brand Director, Stori
- David Geisen: CEO, Dafiti Mexico
- David Haber: Co-Founder & CEO, Unitips
- David Dana: CFO, Canasta Rosa
- David De Santiago
- David Andujo: ceo, andujo consulting
- David Jorjani: Founder, Qatalyst Labs
- Deborah Dana: CEO & Co-Founder, Canasta Rosa
- Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
- Diego Sánchez Padilla: CRO & CO Founder, Keyboo
- Diego Villarán: Product led growth, Stori
- Dora Valdez: CEO, YINGO
- Dr. Everardo J. Barojas: Founder, Prescrypto
- Dustin Betz: Director of Operations, White Rose Ventures
- Edgardo Cruz: Chief Innovation Officer, Resortera Business Lab
- Edrizio De La Cruz: Ex Visiting Partner, Y Combinator
- Emmanuel Chamarro: Director, Ixe Grupo Financiero
- Eric Descombes: President, FCB México
- Eugenio Perea: Partner
- Eynar Samudio Horna: CEO, Strategy & Execution
- Fabiola Borquez: Senior Product Manager, Scotiabank
- Fabiola Quinzanos: Principal, Monashees
- Federico Fernandez Dupouy: Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI RENOVABLES
- Fernando Ramírez De La Peña: Consultant, Marketing
- Francisco Cordoba : Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, WeSend
- Francisco Maldonado Haro: Francisco Maldonado, Sandwich Group
- Francisco Schuler: Investment associate, Wayra Hispam
- Gabriel Cortina: Country Manager, Wayra
- Gabriela Hurtado: Head of Product, Ubiqua
- Galit Flasterstein: CEO, Local Keeps
- Gerardo Macías: Founder & Managing Partner, Astelaris
- Germán White: Director Académico, Brother Panama
- Gilles Suberville
- Gonzalo Herrera: Managing Partner, BYG Consultores
- Grisel Olmedo: Head of Brand, albo
- Guillaume Balas: Angel Investor | Mentor | Entrepreneur, 3scale / Meta Pool / The Inbound Labs / Tings
- Guillermo Villegas: Co-Founder & CMO, Luuna
- Guillermo Guzman: Local Leader, Founder Institute Colombia
- Gustavo Toledo: Director de Operaciones, Logistica Prixz SAPI de CV
- Haim Perets
- Heinz Sohm: CEO, BLIND CREATOR
- Ignacio Bermudez: Co founder, Tally Legal
- Ignacio Cordero: Head of Growth, RappiPay
- Iñigo Rumayor Belausteguigoitia: Former CoCeo, Arcus
- Isaac Carreón
- Isaac Victoria: Legal Director, Webach
- Ivan Alvarez: CEO , iOS Developers Mexico
- Ivan Kourany: Co-Founder, Tribu App
- Jaime Martinez: CEO & Cofounder, Miind Brands (Acquired by Merama)
- Jakiya Elizabeth Brown: CEO and Founder, Founder of The Travelingfro Brand | Travelpreneur | Branding Strategist
- Javier Gotschlich: Head of Partnerships - Hubspot for Startups, HubSpot
- Javier Cabrero: Anaylist, Billioneurons
- Jennifer Reyna: Co-founder y COO, okboy
- Jesus Torres: Parter & CRO, Snowball
- Joao Fernandes: Gerente General | CoFounder, PROINSEC | Maptasking
- Joao Matos Albino: CO FOUNDER, URBVAN
- Johan Castellanos: Co-Founder, ChefSurf, MAT
- John Collins: CEO, IHOP Panama
- Jordania Lopez Aguilar: Program Manager, Boost
- Jorge Lopez Archundia: Director Operativo - Co Founder, SOME / Content Marketing
- Jose Acuña: Director, FI Caracas
- Jose Antonio Tena Sendra: Director of Product / Head of New Products & Expansion, Stori
- Jose Carlos Garcia Mendiazabal
- Jose Maria Pertusa Honrubia: Co-Ceo and Co-Founder , Apli
- Juan Leaño: Founder & CEO, Parco
- Juan Antonio Boyd: Co-Founder and Partner , Velo Legal
- Juan Camilo Villegas: Founder, Buky
- Juan Carlos Belair: Founder, Spiralis
- Juan Carlos Pascual: CEO, Kommplex Analytics
- Juan Miguel Guerra Dávila: CEO Revolut de México, Revolut
- Juan Pablo Ortega: Co Founder and Head of RappiBank, Rappi
- Juan Pablo Eskildsen: Coach, Consultant and HR Expert / Founder, Ofrece Tu Talento
- Juan Pablo Donoso: Director, Optiks
- Julian Nuñez: Founder & COO, Yuno
- Juliano Marques: Acquisition Marketing Manager, Goomer
- Juvenal Cubiles
- Laura Ortiz Montemayor: Founder, SVX México
- Laura Elizondo
- Laura M González: Associate, IGNIA Partners
- Lauren Rodriguez: Co-Fundadora, Abogadas para Emprendedores
- Leo Marchosky: Strategy Business Consultant, Free Lance
- Leonardo Gaitan: CEO & co-founder, Autoparti
- Leyre Garrido Iriso: Investment Associate , Ignia
- Lorena Sanchez Garcia: Erudit AI, COO & Board Member
- Lourdes Uzuriaga, platzi
- Lucia Martinez: Director and Co-Founder, Troquer
- Luis Lopez, Twenty-three
- Luis Barrios: Founder & CEO , Arkangeles.co
- Luis Andrés Hernández Acevedo: CEO, Wise
- Luis San Miguel: Managing Director, Caribbean Fishing Trading
- Luis Valdovinos: Industrial Engineer and Systems, YOYUU
- Luisa Arnal: Lawyer, COMETA
- Luis Adolfo Gonzalez: CEO
- LUIS ANTONIO M: CEO, Solución-A
- Mads Schmidt Petersen: CEO , HippoBuild (Y Combinator W22)
- Mahesh Khemlani: CEO, Bpartnerslab
- Maite Diez Canedo: co founder, VIA WORK
- Manuel Nucamendi: Senior Consultant, Kantar Consulting
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marcela Gutiérrez: Founder, LaMarch Consulting
- Marcela Zetina Manrique: Head of Open Innovation & Open Banking , BBVA
- Marco Villegas: Director, FI Caracas
- Marcos Polanco: CEO, Deedit
- Marcus Dantus: CEO, Startup Mexico
- Maria Altschulter: Associate, DILA CAPITAL
- Maria Beatriz Barletta: Director, Sentio Panama
- Maria Jose Madero: Co Founder & Creative Director , Ben & Frank
- Mariana Villarreal: e-commerce entrepreneur and consultant, Ignite ecommerce, Sacional, +
- Mariana Castillo: Co-CEO & Co-Founder, BEN AND FRANK
- Marlene Garayzar: Founder, Stori
- Martha Ayala: Consultor en Vinculación y desarrollo de negocios empresarial, Citibank
- Martin Mexia: Head of RappiPay (Former CEO & Co-Founder of Payit acquired by Rappi), Rappi
- Mauricio Miranda: Manager, Caricaco
- Mayela Becerra: Partner, SWS Consulting & Ingredienta.com
- Melina Cruz: CEO, Homely
- Michael Lindo: CEO and Founding Partner, Blue Tide Web Consulting
- Mois Cherem: CEO & CO-Founder, BEDU
- Moises Hamui: CEO - Co-Founder, Viceversa & MHA Consulting
- Mónica Albarrán: CEO, MUUK
- Natalia Falla Liévano: Head of International Talent , flat.mx
- Natalia Rico: head of operations, h20 capital
- Natalia Gonzalez Vela: Founder, La Neta del VC
- Olivier Sieuzac: Former CEO , Linio.com
- Orlando Osorio: CEO & Founder, Meaningful
- Oscar Landivar: COO, Wizdem
- Pablo Rena: CEO & Founder, MayoreoTotal
- Pablo Ize: CEO, Kiwi - BOP
- Pablo Estevez: Co-Founder , Gus Chat
- Pablo Gomez Gallardo Maass: Chief Digital Officer, Viva Aerobus
- Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
- Patrick Menendez: Principal, VARIV Capital
- Paul D'souza: President and CEO, The D'Souza Group
- Pedro Colmenares: Co-Founder, Kernel Community
- Pedro Ornelas: CEO - Cofounder/Mentor, Microlabs/Independent/Newchip
- Prakash Wallis: Ex CEO, ASHA GROW
- Rafa Jiménez: CEO, Seenapse
- Rafael De Haro: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, COMETA
- Rajanish Karki: Founder, Beats Bazar
- Raul Basurto Rosenzweig: Worldwide Developer Relations, Rack Centre
- Raul Maldonado: CEO, Boitas
- Raymond D. Harari: Managing Partner, Canalis Capital
- Rebeca Vidal: Ejecutiva Principal, CAF
- Roberto Coste: CEO, Kublau
- Roberto Castillo: CTO & COFOUNDER, Mobbit
- Rocio Reyes Morales: Brand Strategist, Google
- Rodrigo Garza Urquiza: Sales Branch Manager , Bray International
- Rogelio De los Santos: Cofounder and Managing Partner, Dalus Capital & FI Monterrey
- Roger Vasquez: Director and Founder, Punto Bohemio
- Rossana Escalante: Co-founder, Intersect
- Ruben Serros GarduŃo: PRESIDENTE, Innovación Posible ac
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Sandra Alvarez: Director of Product, Clip
- Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder & Principal IP Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
- Santiago Sanchez: Founder, Intersect
- Santiago Lamas: Head of Marketing - Founding Team, Justo
- Sathya Mariana Llull: VP of People and Talent, Deckrobot
- Shai Rosen: Co-founder, Suggestic
- Shai Rosen: Co-Founder, Suggestic
- Sherman He: CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, STORI
- Shlomi Podgaetz: Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
- S Ita Doornbos
- Sofia Machuca: Open Innovation Manager, Axtel
- Sofia Niño De Rivera: Co-founder & Board of Directors, ETC Media Group
- Sofia Padilla: Associate, Redwood Ventures
- Sofía Torres: CEO, Telokwento
- Stefan Scharnagl Villarroel: Founder, SEED
- Stephanie Lewis: CEO, Cinemanagement
- Susan Herrera: Solutions Architect, Pixmat Studios
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Valentina Jordan: former investor, canary
- Victor Reyes: Co-Founder, SkyRocket Tech Lab
- Victor Chapela: Founder & CEO, Onfire Health
- Victor Lopez Cabrera: Technology Innovation Professor, Universidad Tecnologica de Panama
- Virginia Campo: CEO and Cofounder, Talent Nomads
- Warren Gutensohn: Head of Product, RappiPay
- Yelena Ioffe Cuevas: Fund Manager, Soldiers Field Angels
- Ytzia Belausteguigoitia: Co-Founder & Co CEO, Troquer
- Yusef Jacobs: Founder & CEO, Gravity
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The organization's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Guadalajara and help build the future.
Apply to the Guadalajara - Mexico City Fall 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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